FREEDOM OF LOVE by Sourojeet Paul

"It is my body and my wish... be gone demons."

The individuals of the LGBTQ community have been relentlessly persecuted by society for their sexual orientations and method of pleasures. They've always been prey to the tyrannical gaze of society and even in the 21st century, they face social taboos and judgemental behaviour.

The work looks closely at the LGBT community in eastern India, often projecting a world devoid of restrictive laws and social taboos that the community regularly comes up against. For a community whose voice is often marginalised

Homosexuality in India has been a subject of discussion from ancient times to modern times. Hindu texts have taken positions regarding the homosexual characters and themes Rigveda, one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism says Vikriti Evam Prakriti (meaning what seems unnatural is also natural), which some scholars believe recognises homosexual dimensions of human life, like all forms of universal diversities. Historical literary evidence indicates that homosexuality has been prevalent across the Indian subcontinent throughout history and that homosexuals were not necessarily considered inferior in any way until about the 18th century during British colonial rule.

The Arthashastra, an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, mentions a wide variety of sexual practices which, whether performed with a man or a woman, were sought to be punished with the lowest grade of fine. While homosexual intercourse was not sanctioned, it was treated as a very minor offence, and several kinds of heterosexual intercourse were punished more severely.

Homophobia is prevalent in India. Public discussion of homosexuality, bisexuality and trans orientation in India has been inhibited by the fact that sexuality in any form is rarely discussed openly. There may be much higher statistics for individuals who have concealed their identity, since a number of Indians, categorising in the LGBTQ community are living in the closet due to fear of discrimination.

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), dating back to 1861, makes sexual activities "against the order of nature" punishable by law and carries a life sentence. Before striking down the colonial-era law several organisations have expressed support for decriminalising homosexuality in India and pushed for tolerance and social equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. India is among countries with a social element of a third gender, but mental, physical, emotional and economic violence against the LGBT community in India prevails.

Lacking support from family, society or police in every moment of their life. They are treated as untouchables and also neglected in getting proper health care facilities, basic education, security. Many gay rape victims do not report the crimes. They’ve always been prey to the tyrannical gaze of society, their views and ideology about sexual preferences often contradicts with the mass and they are mobbed and lynched publicly taking up the law and order in the hands of the public. Various Hindu organisations, based in India and abroad have supported the decriminalisation of homosexual behaviours.

While there’s always a univocal unity of religious leaders in expressing their homophobic attitude. Usually divisive and almost always seen tearing down each other's religious beliefs, but this time leaders across sections came forward in decrying homosexuality and expressing their solidarity with the judgment of decriminalising the colonial period law in 2018.

On the other hand, the majority of Indians bearing the same stereotypical mentality were dead against the decrying of the law. According to their verses, Homosexuality is a crime according to scriptures and is unnatural. People cannot consider themselves to be exclusive of a society... In a society, a family is made up of a man and a woman, not a woman and a woman, or a man and a man. If these same-sex couples adopt children, the child will grow up with a skewed version of a family. Society will disintegrate. If we are to look at countries in the West that have allowed same-sex marriages, you will find the mental tensions they suffer from.

Families carrying homosexual/bisexual/transgender children advised them not to express these different sexual preferences in the fear of getting compartmentalised from the society, And seek to visit psychologists and medical advisory to bring them back in the normal course of life through yoga, counselling and different medications. They call it a bad addiction. Homosexuality is against Indian culture, against nature, and against science. It’s quite horrible to put on their shoes and visualise how much emotional turmoil they go through suppressing their eternal wish and being bullied, getting trolled on social media platforms and every other aspect of life. With these deep wounds, they’ve to struggle for their basic needs and human rights. They walk all alone along their own scripted path.

“The wound is the place where the light enters you…” -Rumi

Pride parades are outdoor events celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary and queer (LGBTQ) social and self-acceptance, achievements, legal rights, and pride. The events also at times serve as demonstrations for legal rights such as same-sex marriage.

Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk is held with the intention of making a political statement for Equality, Tolerance, Love and Solidarity. The walk is held to strengthen the voice for equality for all – irrespective of gender, sexuality, religion, etc. The participants walk in solidarity with all rights-based movements, Child rights, Women's rights, Dalit rights, Rights of the Disabled/differently-abled, students groups, and others.

Kolkata's pride march 1999 was the first-ever march in India, organised on 2 July 1999. The walk was called The Friendship Walk. The participants were wearing specially designed, bright yellow T-shirts with graphics of footsteps and a caption reading "Walk on the Rainbow"

Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival (KRPF) is a Kolkata based open collective of individuals, networks and organizations that support LGBT rights. runs a number of events such as art exhibits, film screenings, panel discussions, cultural events, community hangouts etc. KRPW walk with Love and Solidarity in support of the rights to gender expression and the rights for individual sexual freedom. To create a space for dialogue, support and strengthen action to visibility issues of Dignity-Voice- Sexuality in relation to children, women and sexual minorities

Thus Pride Walk became a refuge not only to the LGBTQ community but also to some less known sexual minority community like the asexual, skoliosexual, demisexual community who are often misunderstood for their desires which are not absurd but are just different from us, In most of the cases their stories and struggles are unknown and unexplored, they have to pave their own path for living. Pride Parade celebrates their desires and aspirations which are free to be explored and expressed. And an attempt to understand their psyches and visualise their vulnerabilities by creating a space where people can express their personal experiences and feelings, outside of their lived reality. Because we live in a society that prevents us from living a ‘normal’ life, and moreover nobody is happy to be in their normal being and my work imagines a world in which there is the freedom to live according to one’s own desires.

Sourojeet Paul is a B.TECH IT student,born in Kolkata,West Bengal.After completion of his boards and JEE he inscribed his journey in phototgraphy seriously,before that was casually occasional photographer like all of us.

Sourojeet is now predominantly a Street Photographer but according his verses he always finds interest to try out new things in life.The uncertainty of life seems to be the biggest beauty to him.He got his hands dirty in Photojournalism,Wedding as well as Event Photography.Being mostly into the streets he find beauty in the candidness,the underlying story and poetry of the moment.And often try to inculcate and mix up the genres with Emotions and Drama.The way Paul documents weddings and event always leaves his signature style of street and that makes him unique amongst others.

Paul managed to bag awards like THE BEST STORY TELLER AWARD OF 2019,PEOPLES’ CHOICE AWARD.His works have been exhibited in several prestigious galleries of the city along with some reknowned names of the country.Got pubished in well appreciated magazines like VOGUE ITALIA,CHIIZ,IPA,RETRO KOLKATA WEB MAGAZINE to name a few.

Just within few days He has been able to reach the 3rd round of HIPA photography contest in his very first attempt and been finalist on the competitons hosted by CHIIZ INTERNATIONAL.

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Our Challenge: if you’ve got a story you can tell in just a few shots, send it to us at Progressive: (progressivestreetphotography@gmail.com) This is a great chance to express yourself in a special way. You must have had sessions or days where you’ve got a real good feeling about how a story has played out. Could be people you tracked for a while or a day at an event. Your call. Let your pictures tell the story. Share it with us, no less than 5. We’ll share the best on our Website! But remember that words are also important for communicating sensations and your thoughts

The harbor of Muara Angke by Michael C. Geiss

The harbor of Muara Angke in Jakarta, Indonesia, is a microcosme, in one of the biggest cities worldwide. It´s a place, where you can see the impact of a problem, not only due to the local population: The heritage of our consumer society, resulting in pollution by mountains of plastics and chemicals finding a final destination in a place, where you presume to find healthy food.

In the middle of this small world, people who work hard, to feed their families under conditions we are not used to, but always smiling and open for a talk.

When you live in country like I do, were you have to wear hard-toed boots, at the moment you take a small screwdriver in your hands, you will be seriously confused watching those tuff workers on and under a wreck in the harbor.

While observing them dismantling the wreck on deck, I discovered a diver coming up from under this steel-monster. I couldn´t believe that he was doing his dirty job there, getting "fresh" air, by a tube attached to a compressor on the shore. After a while, they stopped for a break and I could ask the diver for a portrait- shot on the pier, what he accepted with a big smile, while his fellow, who came out of a whole in the wreak, only wearing a T-shirt and trousers, asked me to have a noodle soup with him in the shadow. Communication was very simple, they did not speak English and my Indonesian is very poor. I am still wondering, how much of the liquid they work in ... is water? Conclusion: I will never again complain about my job ;)

My name is Michael C. Geiss, I am an editorial and commercial photographer, based in Bavaria (Germany) born in 1957. I spent many years in the south of France, before moving back to Germany, where I studied photography and then started in fashion & food photography, before working as a cameraman for German TV during a period of 10 years.

When I'm not taking photos, you'll find me volunteering at my local NGO, or for an international foundation as a kind of project scout, exploring new countries, or spending time with my (furry) family.

Michael C. Geiss

"Street Workers" by Eduardo Storch

My focus has been "Street Workers" like food trucks, magazine stands, candy kiosks and finally locksmiths, my current project.

Although there are "Locksmith Business Chains" that offer locksmith services in Montevideo, there are still kiosks on the street that people often go to. Some of the newer kiosks are part of the "Locksmith Chains", but there are still independent locksmiths throughout the city who work inside older and varied fibreglass, wood, or sheet metal kiosks. The latter are the ones that captivated me.
I started working on this series last year and it is still ongoing. I have called it "Closed Locksmiths" because I thought it would be interesting to note that workers literally spend long hours "locked" inside their kiosks every day.
It is in these kiosks where they endure the cold of winters, heating the spaces only with small heaters. During the summer, the sun turns the kiosk into an “oven” and the heat is mitigated by a small fan. In the kiosks the lighting conditions are precarious, maintaining the hygiene of the place is complex, and there is no bathroom, so they need to use the bathroom in a nearby bar. They spend most of the day standing or sitting uncomfortably and eating in what little space they have left.
I took all the photographs in Montevideo in black and white with high contrast to highlight the confinement environment.
I only found one woman who worked alongside her husband, but the rest were older men, most of whom have been working at the kiosk for a long time, some of them for more than 30 years.
I told them about my project and they not only gladly agreed to participate, but they spontaneously told me both about their job and about her life. I always brought them a hard copy of the photo or sent it to them on WhatsApp and so far everyone has had very positive reactions to my work.

While listening to all their stories was an extremely interesting experience, I would like to highlight the story of one of the workers, in particular, Julio, who had one of the most striking kiosks and with which I spent the most time.

Julio is 71 years old; he is a turner by profession, but he never worked as such. He worked for 20 years as a large and well-known locksmith. He then became independent and opened the kiosk where he works now for 34 years. He is proud of the way he has decorated his booth, the lights he has placed outside, and the comments people make about his place.
He told me that he had not been in good health and that he had to wear a pacemaker. I could see a piece of paper on the wall of the kiosk that indicated the date of the pacemaker check, then I called him to ask how the check-up went. He thanked me for the call and he told me that he couldn't attend because he was busy working… he had two families to take care of, but he said he felt fine.
It is not just about documenting his work with images, behind them are people with their lives, with their stories ... photography allows me to immerse myself inside people; somehow I'm still a Doctor ... thankfully.

My name is Eduardo Storch and I am from Montevideo, Uruguay. Medical Doctor by profession ... Retired Obstetrician and Gynecologist.
I am an amateur photographer and I have discovered my passion for street photography. I am 74 years old and have four grandchildren.

Since my retirement almost two years ago, I have devoted myself to photography and tried to approach it in a completely different way. I also joined Facebook where I made very good friends who have inspired and guided me.

Eduardo Storch

Lag Ba'Omer by Miki Schauder

Lag Ba'Omer, a Jewish holiday. Some of its main significant rituals- lighting bonfires, prayers, big dancing and singing celebration in which a number of things are being noted.

The end of the plague in which 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's disciples died in the 3rd century, marking the Bar Kochba revolt and the struggle for national freedom, the day of death of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and it’s also the day of celebrating his life, (on the day of death it is possible to win the spiritual property of that person). The custom of lighting bonfires was spread as a memorial for two things.

A memory to the rebels who lit beacons of fire on the mountain tops to convey the message of the outbreak of the revolt. The memory of the bonfire of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai ( also known by his acronym Rashbi), was a 2nd-century in ancient Judea, said to be active after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. He was one of the most eminent disciples of Rabbi Akiva and attributed by many Orthodox Jews with the authorship of the Zohar, the chief work of Kabbalah. In the images, you can see the religious Orthodox praying with their Rabbi. After the prayer, they start dancing and signing the children play by the fire and it's a Mitzvah (an obligation) to light the fire and read words of wisdom. The women are staying far away, looking out of the windows.

This is the story of one night in the streets of the Orthodox city Bnei Brak April 2021

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Shitala Ashtami 2021 by Swarup Chakraborty

SHITALA is a non-Aryan Hindu goddess widely worshipped in India. As an incarnation of supreme Goddess PARVATI, Goddess Shitala is worshipped on the eighth day after the festival of Colours 'HOLI' on the occasion of Shitala Asthami.

It is believed that She cures poxes, sores, ghouls etc. diseases. It is also believed that when a demon named JVARASURA gave bacterial fever to all children, Goddess KATYAYANI came in the form of SHITALA who purify children's blood and destroy bacteria of fever in blood. I captured the various moods of the ritual ''DONDI'' performed on the day of Shitala Puja.

On an auspicious hot summer day, devotees especially women after taking a deep bath in the river 'AdiGanga' in Kalighat, a holy place in Kolkata, are paying their homage by performing this ritual. This ritual 'Dondi' means devotees wriggle on their belly to reach the temple during a very hot summer afternoon in the month of April.

They go through this struggle to purify their soul before reaching Goddes Shitala and they also sacrifice all kinds of comforts during this course to satisfy the Goddess. People believe that the Holy touch of the devotees will protect their children from all kinds of illness. So they lie down their children on the way of the devotees and let them cross the child. The family members of the devotees pour water on the street to clean the road and to prevent the devotees from getting burnt.

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I was born in the ancient village Shantipur of Nadia district, West Bengal, India. I moved to"Calcutta" to pursue higher studies in 1991 and is living here since then. Being a school teacher I stayed in an outlying village of Bengal for 10 years and then was transferred to another school for which I am having to travel 6 hours daily in local trains, bike and ferries to reach which let me acquaintance with a diversity of personalities and lifestyles.

ProgressivEzine #22 INDIA

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The face of the city by Ruber Osoria

**THE FACE OF THE CITY**

**Ruber Osoria**

It represents a kind of personal diary that records all kinds of things I encountered in my daily life in Chile and also reflects my perspective as a Cuban photographer living in a completely foreign environment. , rich in cultural diversity.

Only with ardent patience will we be able to conquer the splendid city that will give light, justice and dignity to all men. Thus the poem will not have sung Pablo Neruda in vain

I wander the streets of the Bio Bio region (Chile) and portray strangers, with such a narrow and futile scope of my photography, as the lives they represent, as the life of almost all of us. But I look for the hint of transcendence in the evanescent and assiduous, in the gestures and ephemeral glances, in the transitory moments of connection in the urban flow, in the fleeting dance of lights, colours, shadows and human presence. In short, what moves me is to grasp the infinitesimal external signs of an inner emotional life, the interiority of people even in the midst of the most public spaces.

My photographs are traces of a transient agglutination of photographer and context; me and the other. The city unites us, the city differentiates us. Shipwrecked in the stream of subsistence of the metropolis,

My photographs are relics of a momentary fusion of photographer and environment, me and the other. The city unites us, the city differentiates us. Immersing myself in the flow of city life, I feel that the limits of my ego momentarily become fluid, permeable. I abandon myself to flow. The photographs that follow are both portraits of the people they represent, and portraits of a moment of being, a short but charged crossing of lives. They are my feeble protest against the oblivion of the city.

Representa una especie de diario personal que registra todo tipo de cosas que he encontrado en mi vida cotidiana en Chile , y también refleja mi perspectiva como fotógrafo Cubano que vive en un entorno completamente extranjero, rico en diversidad cultural.

Sólo con una ardiente paciencia conquistaremos la espléndida ciudad que dará luz, justicia y dignidad a todos los hombres. Así la poesía no habrá cantado en vano Pablo Neruda

Deambulo por las calles de la región del Bio Bio (Chile) y retrato a extraños , con un alcance tan estrecho y fútil de mi fotografía , como las vidas que representan, como la vida de casi todos nosotros. Pero busco el barrunto de trascendencia en lo evanescente y lo asiduo , en gestos y miradas efímeras , en momentos transitorios de conexión en el fluir urbano, en la danza fugaz de luces , colores ,sombras y presencia humana. En fin lo que me mueve es captar los signos externos infinitesimales de una vida emocional interior, la interioridad de las personas incluso en medio de los espacios más públicos.

Mis fotografías son traza de una aglutinación transitoria de fotógrafo y contexto ; yo y el otro. La urbe nos une, la ciudad nos diferencia. Naufragando en el discurrir de la subsistencia de la metrópoli , mis fotografías son reliquias de una fusión momentánea de fotógrafo y entorno, yo y el otro. La ciudad nos une, la ciudad nos diferencia. Sumergiéndome en el fluir de la vida de la ciudad, siento que los límites de mi yo momentáneamente se vuelven fluidos, permeables. Me abandono al fluir. Las fotografías que siguen son tanto retratos de las personas que representan, como retratos de un momento del ser, un breve pero cargado cruce de vidas. Son mi débil protesta contra el olvido de la ciudad.

Ruber-Osoria-en-una-exposicion-de-su-trabajo.-Cortesia-Ruber-Osoria.-1.jpg

I was born in the small town of Contramaestre, in the eastern part of Cuba. I come from a humble family, where most of them and Cubans perceived Chile as a very civilized country with rich, sophisticated and noble people, which made it one Of the 5 best countries to emigrate to. I could never have imagined being in this country, much less living and working; It was an impossible dream for a young man like me. Before arriving in this country, apart from football, Neruda's poems and some emblematic places like the Atacama Desert, I didn't know anything about this country.

The face of the city is a photographic set I took in Chile between 2018-19, an exploration of a very different culture from my home, as well as my 'culture shock'. I am interested in observing human behaviour in a public environment with new eyes and encountering a very different culture from that described in a tourist guide. Using a street photography approach.

Nací en el pequeño pueblo de Contramaestre , en el oriente de Cuba . Vengo de una familia humilde , donde la mayoría de ellos y de los cubanos percibían a Chile como un país muy civilizado con gente rica, sofisticada y noble , por lo que, lo convertía en unos de los 5 mejores países para emigrar. Nunca pude imaginarme estando en este país, y mucho menos viviendo y trabajando; fue un sueño imposible para un joven como yo. Antes de llegar a este país , aparte del fútbol, los poemas de Neruda y algunos lugares emblemáticos como el desierto de Atacama, no sabía nada de este país. El rostro de la ciudad es un conjunto de fotografía que hice en Chile entre 2018-19, una exploración de una cultura que es muy diferente de mi hogar, así como mi propio “choque cultural”. Me interesa observar el comportamiento humano en un entorno público con ojos nuevos y encontrarme con una cultura muy diferente a la que describe una guía turística. Utilizando un enfoque de fotografía callejera.

Ruber Osoria

The seven-year rites of penance in Guardia Sanframondi, in the Benevento area by Raffaele Maglione

**The seven-year rites of penance**

**by Raffaele Maglione**

Every seven years everything starts to live again ... Guardia Sanframondi relives for the Assunta.

The only sign of a civilization is the presence of the cameras placed on the balconies of the main square.

It is precisely from here that it all begins ... a mass of colors begins to take shape and from the churchyard of the Assumption.

Their step, weighed down by costumes and a suffocating sun, seems to emphasize the penance contained in their gestures.

They are the figurants: men, women and children in thevshoes and emotions of characters belonging to the life of Jesus, the Bible andvrecent and past history.

Meanwhile, from the alleys of the town, preceded by a smell so nauseating as to create a sense of bewilderment, here comes the Battenti: souls without sex and age dressed in a white robe and hood.

They hold a crucifix in their left hand and with their right they beat their breasts using the "sponge", a circular piece of cork, in which pins have been appropriately placed, the tips of which protrude from the cork for about two millimeters spaced at the base of the cork with a layer of wax.

This weapon of suffering and atonement is continually bathed in white wine which joins in a pungent odor to the first drops of blood until the red takes over the white so suffering makes its way onto the bodies of those who want to atone for their sins.

They are joined, also arranged for two in one in a long row, the Disciplinati so called because they make use of an ancient instrument of torture "the discipline" which consists of a group of metal strips, joined by a chain with which they slap their shoulders.

The crowd is kidnapped and litanies to the Madonna rise from the alleys: “Virgo Prudens… Salus in Firmorum” spreads with unexpected vigor; "Ora pronobis" and the reply of the penitents.

Suddenly a huge roar causes everyone to genuflect: the Holy Virgin, the woman who every seven years calls emigrants from every nation to her presence, covered with gold jewelry, advances towards the doors holding the Child in her arms.

The scourging resumes between requests for pardon and invocations for help but in the meantime the clock has already begun to mark the end of time ...

The Knockers are preparing to hide their wounds; the country is preparing to fall back into a blissful sleep ... a sleep that will last seven years.

27 agosto 2017

Ogni sette anni tutto ricomincia a vivere… Guardia Sanframondi rivive per l’Assunta.

L’unico segno di una civiltà è la presenza delle telecamere sistemate su balconi della piazza principale.

È proprio da qui che tutto comincia… un ammasso di colori inizia a prendere forma e dal sagrato della chiesa dell’Assunta Il loro passo, appesantito dai costumi e da un sole soffocante, sembra enfatizzare la penitenza racchiusa nei loro gesti.

Sono i Figuranti: uomini donne e bambini calati nei panni e nelle emozioni di personaggi appartenenti alla vita di Gesù, della Bibbia e storia recente e passata.

Intanto dai vicoli del paese, preceduti da un odore così nauseante da creare un senso di smarrimento, ecco arrivare i Battenti: anime senza sesso ed età vestiti con un saio bianco e cappuccio. Impugnano nella mano sinistra un crocifisso e con la destra si percuotono il petto usando la “spugna”, un pezzo di sughero circolare, nel quale sono stati opportunamente sistemati degli spilli le cui punte fuoriescono dal sughero per circa due millimetri distanziate alla base del sughero con uno strato di cera. Questa arma di sofferenza e d’espiazione viene continuamente bagnata dal vino bianco che si unisce in un odore pungente alle prime gocce di sangue finché il rosso prende il sopravvento sul bianco così la sofferenza si fa strada su corpi di chi vuole espiare le proprie colpe.

A loro si uniscono, anch’essi disposti per due in una in una lunga fila, i Disciplinati chiamati cosi perché fanno uso di antico strumento di tortura “la disciplina” che consiste in un gruppo di strisce metalliche, unite da una catenella con le quali si percuotono le spalle.

La folla è rapita e da vicoli si elevano litanie alla madonna: “Virgo Prudens… Salus in Firmorum” si propaga con inaspettato vigore; “Ora pronobis” e la risposta dei penitenti.

All’improvviso un enorme boato induce tutti alla genuflessione: la Vergine Santa, la donna che ogni sette anni richiama al suo cospetto emigranti da ogni nazione, coperta di monili avanza verso i battenti stringendo tra le braccia il Bambino.

La flagellazione riprende tra richieste di grazia e invocazioni d’aiuto ma intanto l’orologio a già incominciato a segnare la fine del tempo…

I Battenti si apprestano a nascondere le ferite; il paese si prepara a ricadere in un sonno beato… un sonno che durerà sette anni.

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Reportaje "Músicas del Mundo" by José Ríos López

foto 8.jpg — **Músicas del Mundo**

**by José Ríos López**

Todos tenemos mucho en común y lo que no hemos de buscarlo en las diferencias y enriquecernos con la diversidad, no ha de importar la raza, ni el color, ni el idioma, etc. la música y el baile son lenguajes universales que todos entendemos y que ha de servirnos para tener un lazo de unión indisoluble. Música de Senegal y música de España tienen muchas cosas en común. Busquémoslas

We all have a lot in common and what we do not have to look for in differences and enrich ourselves with diversity, it does not matter race, color, or language, etc. music and dance are universal languages that we all understand and that should help us to have an indissoluble bond of union. Music from Senegal and music from Spain have many things in common. Let's look for them

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Gajan Festival Of Bengal By Shubhodeep Roy

Leap Of Faith - Shubhodeep Roy.jpg — **Gajan Festival Of Bengal**

**by Shubhodeep Roy**

I came to learn about Gajan Festival during my childhood. I grew up in Kolkata West Bengal. During childhood, I remember seeing men and women dressed as gods and goddesses, practicing some rituals, some fire show, at that time I was so small to understand those things.

After I went to college and after developing Photography as a hobby I decided to cover the festival.

The traditions and rituals seemed out of this world. It was nothing that I had heard or seen in the past. After some research, I visited the Kalighat area in the city of joy Kolkata to attend the festival.

Kalighat's Gajan Festival is one of the oldest and still follows the same rituals that have been around since ancient times. Bengal is known as a land of festivities, where religious ceremonies outnumber the months in the calendar.

The festival Gajan is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly in the Indian state of West Bengal. Gajan is celebrated on the last day of Bengali New Year. This is a pre-harvest season festival celebrated in order to please Lord Shiva. It is associated with such deities as Shiva, Neel, and Dharmaraj. Gajan spans around a week, starting at the last week of Choitro continuing till the end of the Bengali year. It ends with Charak Puja. Participants of this festival are known as sannyasi or Bhokto.

Persons of any gender can be a participant. The complete history of the festival is not known. The central theme of this festival is deriving satisfaction through non-sexual pain, devotion, and sacrifice. As mentioned earlier, the basic reason for the festival is to worship the deities of the respective devotees for the hope of a better rainy season and good harvest. Also, people believe that the festival will provide them prosperity eliminating any sorrow and suffering which they suffered in the past year. Primarily arranged on the premises of different Shiva Temples, the festival is arranged mainly by mendicants (Persons begging or relying on charitable donations) who are referred to as “Gajan Sanyasis”.

The festival takes place on open grounds and not in anyone’s residence. Among the many folk festivals of Bengal, the Gajan festival, Charak Puja and Neel Puja have a special place even in today’s modern age. Although it is celebrated predominantly in rural Bengal, the festival is still celebrated in some pockets of the Metro city of Kolkata. Gajan is actually linked to persons who are related to the agricultural community, directly or indirectly. They pray for the rains and better harvest.

During Charak people dress up as Cosmetic Shiva, Parvati, Krishna, and other deities. Usually, the Rajbangshi caste of persons is allowed to do such acts. They are locally known as “Soung of Gajan” (Soung in Bengali means jester). The word gajan in Bengali comes from the word garjan or roar generated by sannyasis during the festivities. An alternative theory says it is from the two words Ga (village) and Jan (People), indicating the festival of the people.

Personally, I always have a feeling of amusement and fear when I witness such a festival like this, acts which include jumping from a high altitude, playing with fire are very dangerous and can be fatal as well. But the faith, of the people who have towards their deity, is unexplainable. The faith and chaos I experienced while shooting this festival in my hometown is a feeling I really can't explain. I am discovering my city Kolkata every day, by these traditions which only takes place here & nowhere else in the world.

I am Shubhodeep Roy a 20-year-old student photographer based in Kolkata, India. I am pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce from the University Of Calcutta. Photography is my hobby and I have started doing it from a very young age. Borrowing my uncle's Nikon D60 camera. Photography is like a meditation for me, there’s a balance between my mind and my body. For me, photography is all about living in the present moment, the candidness. I love to try and explore various genres of this beautiful art.

A few of my achievements in this field are, I am the winner of the Best Photo Award in Welcome to Asia Photo Contest (JAPAN) and the winner of the 3rd Prize in Portrait Category in 2nd Life In Another Light Photo Contest (USA).

I am also a monthly award winner of the CEWE Photo Award (GERMANY).

My shots have been exhibited in Kolkata International Photography Festival 2019, Chennai Photo Biennale's #My2020Hero Initiative, THC Chiiz World Photography Day Exhibition, The Lensation 2020, and in Islamic University (BANGLADESH).

A few of my publications are in Photo Weekly Magazine (GERMANY), Better Photography Magazine, Asian Photography Magazine, Chiiz Photography Magazine, Ei Samay Newspaper(Regional Bengali), and Vogue Italia. I was also featured in an editorial by Wipplay (FRANCE) called "Weekly Talent Run #09.2021".

Shubhodeep Roy

What a coo: In first place for young amateur photographer of the year is this image, which captures the humble pigeon shaping its wings ready to landSHUBHODEEP ROY — **What a coo: In first place for young amateur photographer of the year is this image, which captures the humble pigeon shaping its wings ready to land**
**SHUBHODEEP ROY**

Life in a bus by Anat Shushan

**Yuval lives in a bus**

**by Anat Shushan**

This sounds like a great title for a children book. Except for Yuval, this is real life.

6 years ago, after traveling the world for many years and living in numerous different locations all over the world and in Israel, Yuval was about to buy a plane ticket to India. He’s heard the travel voice calling him again. But then his life path changed and a few months later he found himself, after a lot of hard work (!) living on a bus he single handedly renovated.

He was born 45 years ago in a c section and after many challenging hours for his mom.

As he jokes, he says that even then he knew being born into this world is not going to be easy so he didn’t want to come out.

The connecting thread throughout his whole life is not following the herd, he always looked for the sideways.

After a challenging army service, his starveling started, on and off, for about 20 years. He lived in Germany for a couple of years, in London, South Africa, Mexico and in between spent his time in Israel including living on a beach for a year.

In the summer of 2015, right before going to India, a good friend of his came up with the idea of buying and renovating an old bus to live in. Yuval bought a nice land, a bus and started putting his heart and soul into renovating the bus. He had no specific plan in mind, just went with the way things worked out.

3.5 months later, in the beginning of the winter, he moved in the bus.

Today, he hardly ever leaves his impressive breathtaking kingdom. And why would he? It is located in a stunning location, overlooking a beautiful valley, isolated and privet and yet close to civilization.

He has everything you have in a normal size apartment, only smaller and wisely planned. The driver sit is now his work space, the seats space is now his living room, he has a really nice kitchen, a shower and an ecological toilet and a bedroom in the back of the bus, were the cool kids usually sit.

Spread all over the bus there are items connected to his family, which sounds like a really great one. He even has his mom’s old camera, a lovely old Minolta that seems to still work perfectly (I had to check it of course).

His beautiful 2 cats keep him company and fill his heart, he eats most of his food from fruits and vegetables he grows on his land, produces electricity with Solar panels he put on the top on the bus, he is not controlled by banks and mortgage and relies mostly on himself to create calm and un dictated life.

He really does love his life and wishes that many people will follow him and embrace this way of living. I can totally understand, even with the challenges living like this brings, why would someone choose this way of life.

I think this is a brave choice, mostly because it really is so different from the way many people choose to live nowadays. Doing this really says “Hey, this is me. Take it or leave it”.

One thing is for sure, planet earth thanks Yuval and others like him that prove that anything is possible…

Anat Shushan

The lowest POV possible by Julia Giannopoulos

My technique is as follows: as I’m traversing the streets I’m looking for an area that will both provide an abundance of people while also providing an interesting backdrop from the view of the lowest POV possible.

I attempt to find buildings, bridges and people besides the subject(s) I’m focusing on in order to provide an additional visual aesthetic to the image. Once I’ve found the area I’m wanting to shoot in I wait for a subject. Once a subject has been found I crouch down as low as possible, place the end of my camera on the ground and angle it up in order to approximate the area in which the subject is coming from.

My main camera is a Ricoh GR iii. For this technique, I also employ the use of the Ricoh GW-4 wide-angle conversion lens which increases the field of view from 28 mm to 21mm. A wide-angle lens enables one to capture a unique perspective while allowing you to capture the structure and or people in the background. I use continuous shooting at the Ricoh GR iii’s 10 FPS in order to obtain the best shot possible

I’m a NYC/ NJ street photographer living in New Jersey.

I’m 54 years old and have been shooting street photography for the past two and a half years. My photographic journey began when I was five years old when my mother purchased an inexpensive Kodak instamatic camera.

I’m also a watercolourist and have sold my paintings of historical Helena Montana architecture while living there for sixteen years.

The Wolters by Cadya Levy

Senza titolo.jpg — **The Wolters**

**by Cadya Levy**

My name is Cadya Levy, I am a photographer from Tel Aviv, Israel. I work for a newspaper and in my free time, I document events that catch my attention.

I made a portrait series call the Wolters, at the time of Covid 19. Wolts is a global food delivery company around the world that became very popular since the corona time.

The participants in the portrait series are women and men in different and varied age range and lifestyle. Each with his own unique story; some chode the job because they found freedom of movement during this period, some had to find a job since they lost their previous job at the time of Covid 19, and some save for big dreams.

Jackson, 25, came from Africa to Africa and works as an wolter to finance big dreams. His goal is to save money to acquire an education, return to his homeland and help his people.

Joseph drives around with the Guy Fawkes mask regularly during his job as a food volunteer. This is his way of protesting and being identified among the social activist

Shai, 50, worked at the Tel Aviv Museum as an event operator had to work as food volunteer to support his wife and his children

All the pics were taken throughout the city of Tel Aviv: streets, bridges, roads, gray and desolate parking lots and transportation vehicles in a closed atmosphere during the Corona period. The mode of photography I have chosen is dramatic, contrasting, photographed from a low angle that enhances the wolter and his personal story.

wolters

"Flower children" by Dick Verton

Bloemen meisje+FL+WWSP.jpeg — "**Flower children"**

**by Dick Verton**

I call these children “Flower children". They walk the whole day on the ghats in Varanasi trying to sell flower baskets on Tourist en devotes. Most of these kids don’t go to school. But they are very clever! They speak a little bit, sometimes good English and also try to ask to match money for those baskets. These kids making long day’s.starting at 5 o clock in the morning, have some rest around midday and go on till late afternoon I feel sorry for those children but also have respect for them! I see most of them back every year we come to Varanasi. Till the age of 10-12 years. Young children have more symphony than older children

Dick Verton

⁣Waiting by Gourav Biswas

20201218145951_IMG_1569 ps.jpg — **⁣Waiting**

**by Gourav Biswas**

Hi, I'm Gourav Biswas, an undergraduate in Microbiology, currently preparing for MSc. I'm from Kolkata, trying to frame the essence of the streets and telling the story.

So, it was a Saturday, the sun was setting, the day was ending. This street is one of the busiest in this area.

I was roaming around the lanes, was finding stories. Suddenly spotted this scene, under the bridge. This man was eagerly waiting for his shoes to be stitched. The cobbler, was doing his work patiently, listening to music. And the last lights was peeping through the buildings.

This was the actual story behind these shots. And this what my version of the story from these frames :

// WAITING //⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣Waiting for a better day,⁣⁣⁣⁣

A better sunrise,⁣⁣⁣⁣

A better meal,⁣⁣⁣⁣

A better output.⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣

This day was bad,⁣⁣⁣⁣

But the mistakes are noted,⁣⁣⁣⁣

The drawbacks are corrected,⁣⁣⁣⁣

Waiting for a better start.⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣

The waiting is constant,⁣⁣⁣⁣

Doing mistakes are part,⁣⁣⁣⁣

Giving the fight is important,⁣⁣⁣⁣

Having patience is the necessity.⁣⁣⁣⁣

Gourav Biswas

Happy Passover everyone by Anat Shushan

Spring is here, which means Passover is here. One of my favourite holidays. Maybe because of its significance of ending slavery and becoming free. For me, that’s what it’s about.

Passover is a family holiday when we have that one special evening in which the whole family gets together for the Passover Seder.

In the Jewish tradition, there are many preparations to be done for this holiday.

One of the main ones is the burning of chametz (any kind of food that is made of wheat) which is not allowed to be eaten or to be kept in the house during the holiday.

There are 3 stages for purifying the house from chametz, the last one is the elimination of the chametz by burning it.

Many times I don’t relate to religious ceremonies for all kind of reasons. This one I can understand. I understand the meaning, especially mentally, of burning something that I feel I want to get rid of, that I want to purify my life from, that I want to set free. This is how I see the burning of the chametz ceremony, it’s a lot more than just burning the bread.

Each year, the day before Passover begins, the men and children get together to burn any leftovers of chametz found in the house. Unfortunately, they tend to burn whatever comes along like plastic raps of all kind. As much as I can understand the meaning of it, I do have some other issues with this ceremony. Mostly environmental. But one thing is for sure- street photographers love to shoot it!

Happy Passover everyone. I wish for us all to be free. Free in body, free in mind. Free of all the things that hold us back, free of hurt, free to be whatever we want to be.

Chametz (also chometz, ḥametz, ḥameṣ, ḥameç and other spellings transliterated from Hebrew: חָמֵץ / חמץ‎; IPA: [χaˈmets]) are foods with leavening agents that are forbidden on the Jewish holiday of Passover (Jewish Easter). According to halakha, Jews may not own, eat or benefit from chametz during Passover.

Documentation of an environmental issue

by Anat Shushan

It’s been a week since 170 km of the coastline of Israel was covered with tar.

170km of beautiful beaches, full of unique animal habitats (some are in extinction danger), hidden magical spots to escape to from the hectic everyday life- all have been damaged.

Sea birds, sea turtles, crabs, fish and one adult whale died.

It might take decades to restore the damage in the ocean and some of the beaches.

Unfortunately, this is something that happens all the time all over the world. Big vessels dump tons of oil and fuel into the ocean without thinking or taking any responsibility for the damage caused and the killing of animals. Add to that the enormous amount of plastic and garbage are thrown into the sea and you get a dangerous deadly soup.

Environmental issues have been close to my heart for years. Many times I drag my daughter to protests and events to support as much as we can. So when I first heard of the ecological disaster, I had to go and help clean the beaches.

One of the reasons I join all these activities, besides helping out, are the people. The other side of humanity. The good side. Every time I encounter these people, it gives me hope. Seeing people who really care, who are willing to stand in front of huge wealthy companies and say NO. Without fear, without ego, without thinking of themselves. To me, it is a real need to see that good side. It restores balance, faith in humanity. It shows that not all people are bad, driven by ego and power.

While we were cleaning the beach, I looked around and saw little children, elderly people, teenagers, parents, all came with one goal and with that spark in their eyes. That rare kindness and pureness we don’t get to see as much anymore.

This is one of the biggest ecological disasters this country ever saw. And one of the largest volunteering touching operations this country ever saw involving thousands of people from all over the country who come every day and say in their own way- NO.

I came back home from these days at the beaches tired, smelling like tar, sad for this planet but full of hope. That’s what spending time with the other side of humanity does.

We didn't finish coping with the first batch of tar and a couple of days ago another batch landed on our beaches.

And again, so many kind wonderful people are not discouraged and continue to volunteer to clean, to help, to do good

I'm a experienced street photographer from Haifa, Israel. Started my exiting journey in photography when I was 16 in high school when I chose to learn in an art school. There I was exposed to the world of dark rooms, self-developing pictures and negatives and the magic that a camera creates. In my army service I was a photographer and a photography instructor and continued to spread my love to this amazing art. I've been experimenting all kinds of photography over the years, till a few tears ago I found my home-street photography.

Anat Shushan

Kolkata young street photographers

curated by Deepbrata Dutta

As we are in 21st century, technology and its use have rapidly evolved. The liquidity and flexibility have increased and this means that there are more people doing things. Nowadays young photographers are much into social media photography but there are also young photographers who are touching sky in this field due to their passion and eagerness to learn. Young photographers are even discovering several new techniques which are amazing the viewers and which are adding new pages to the book of Photography.
Deepbrata Dutta

Aranya Bhoumik

The Quarantine Couple: Formed this short story in my visit to my aunt's house. As I started to notice their its and bits moments in a day. And how they enjoy even the smallest thing as sitting together over a cup of tea. Which made me think, Maybe we can miss the time of quarantine once it's gone. It's better to enjoy the moments we have now.

A novice in the field of Physics and an enthusiast in photography from India. Originally based in the northern part of West Bengal, But spent a lot of time in Kolkata for studies. This small journey has started back in 2013 as I took the admission for my Bachelors and given my first smartphone. since then tried a few of the genres as Macro photography, Creative Photography, Landscapes and what not. But the search for new stories often leads me to the streets. I like the experience of photography as it lets me witness beautiful moments in time and frame them for people to see.

Arkadeep Mitra

I am Arkadeep Mitra, a 20 year old photographer from Calcutta. A very disillusioned engineering student, I find myself often indulging in photography to escape the realities of life. Though I've refused to conform to any particular genre, you can usually fine me in the streets looking through the unlikeliest of angles trying to frame the unlikeliest of pictures.

Dreams

1- The thing is, I think I can write and come up with a whole world of ideas and stuff when writing about myself: my life, my dreams, my joys and my sorrows. But when I actually sit down and try to pen it down, nothing ever really shows up. It boggles me. It really does. But then I guess I don’t really have a lot of things to talk about. I mean, at the end of the day, I’m still only a twenty year old university-attending kid (not so much nowadays, obviously). I’m just another one of those boys who’ve been thrust into studying subjects he doesn’t want to; books he doesn’t enjoy reading. It’s a pretty sad life, if I may say so. I mean at least till this moment, I don’t really know what I wanna do. My parents are pretty confused too. They don’t know what to do either. I guess what they say is true: “You’re lost, boy.” Indeed, I am.

2- These days, what I do is, I watch an insane amount of films every single day. And it’s not just limited to the American big-budget blockbusters - in fact, I hardly watch Hollywood - I see pretty much everything I can possibly lay my hands on: Taiwanese films, films from Iran, John Woo action flicks, German Expressionism; you name it and it’s highly probable that I’ve already seen it. Anyway, my point is, since I’m so horribly lost and all, I spend a pathetic amount of time watching films. It was all during this fine endeavour that I first came across Wong Kar-Wai’s “Chungking Express.” The film was alright. It was pretty dope. But what really struck my imagination (crucially) was this one protagonist from the movie: Faye.

3- To tell you the truth, I kinda fell head-over-heels for this girl, Faye. I mean, I really did. I crushed on her so badly, it’s pathetic. But why shouldn’t I? So she’s this sweet and bubbly twenty-ish waitress in a late-night fast-food centre, and she’s also ridiculously good at her job - cleaning the place and serving food. She’s very attractive and most importantly, she keeps listening to The Mamas And The Papas’ “California Dreaming” all the time on a loudspeaker. I mean, when I say “all the time”, it is indeed ALL THE TIME. She says “it keeps her from thinking so much.” She’s right, of course. Trick your mind; that’s the trick. Interestingly, it also tells us one of the more important aspects about her: her dream. No prizes for guessing. Yes, the dream is to visit California. Oh, by the way, she’s from Hong Kong.

4- Now if I think about it clearly, I think the reason why I like Faye so much is probably due to the fact that she’s so much like me. I mean, looks aside - I’m ugly; she is the prettiest - I did find some similarities between the two of us. Of course, one of them (and the major) reason is that we share the same discontentment for our surroundings. It’s not like the things around me suck so bad; it’s not that bad honestly. But like she comments in the film, “I had to know whether it’s sunny or rainy in California,” I too have to know if things get any better from this absolute nadir of life I find myself in. She wanted to go to California. I want to go and see Hong Kong. That’s my dream. I know it sounds stupid. But really, that is it.

5- Like I said before; my parents don’t really understand. I mean, all I do the entire day is sit in the bad with the laptop open in front of me, watching films, reading books, playing video-games. They probably think I’m a good-for- nothing. I don’t think they’re wrong though; they’re right. Right now, I’m in fact a good-for-nothing. I won’t be denying that. But what I sometimes really feel like doing is going up to them and blaming all my shit on them. They are to be blamed (partly) in all honesty. I mean, I didn’t go around specifically insisting on studying engineering - in fact, I clearly stated that I didn’t wanna do it - and now, when things aren’t being very easy for none of us, they make me take all the blame?

6- Guess what though? I’m twenty now, and I’m old enough to stand up to them. I mean,at the end of the day, I’m the one who is living my life. Why the hell should I listen to what others think about me? I don’t give a fuck now to be very honest. What I think now is that one’s personal happiness and satisfaction is what is of the utmost importance. You can take whatever suggestions and criticisms others have for you and do stuff what they want you to do, and I don’t think you’ll ever be happy if you do that. Sure, things might get comfortable for you. But what about fulfillment? You think you’ll get that if you only listen to what others have to say? I don’t think so. And I don’t I’ll be listening to them anytime soon either.

7- I won’t be pushed around. I will not let others dictate my life. I’ll only do what I please; whatever makes me happy. I have been so depressed and so very sad for way too long now. It’s time to grow out of my disillusionment and live the life I dream of (it’s gonna be very difficult though) living. I am gonna stand up and take notice of my own aspirations. What I eventually plan to do is make a living out of things I genuinely enjoy doing. I have realized that what they say is in fact the truth: “Life is too short to be doing something you don’t enjoy.” I am gonna stick by my guns now, no matter how challenging the road is. I choose to live. And I choose to live happy.

8-But then again, I don’t really know what I wanna do. Or wait; maybe I do know what I am talking about. I think I just wanna enjoy life. Doing that, I wouldn’t mind visiting places I want to visit; like Hong Kong. I just want to enjoy the smallest things, and the little moments. I want to be free. I want to be happy. I wanna feel content. I want to be satisfied. I want fulfilment. I want to live life. I choose to live life. I’ll do all that, maybe after another two years or so, when I’m actually done with this stupid BTech degree. No shit, I gotta follow my dream.

You can contact me and view more of my works here:- Facebook Instagram 500px

Dipanjan Chakraborty

My name is Dipanjan Chakraborty. I am 22 years old, I live in Kolkata. I have completed my graduation last year and now I am preparing for Civil service. I am a Kolkata based street and documentary photographer. I have been documenting Kolkata for the last 2 years. As a photographer, my perspective remains to explore street photography as a key to reach the common people and their lives.

People of Kolkata are insane about Photography, lots of photographers are working on it, but to some extent, we all are united by a common term, that is 'Kolkata'.

Kolkata is a congested city, too many people, too many vehicles are there. That is why pollution or it may be termed as a smoggy environment is very much photogenic and colours of land and people through this fog is a very interesting thing which I find.

Photography is the face of social structure. Photography definitely has a social function. While I document or photograph the people of Kolkata, I want to portray the socio-economic structure of them.

I love to tell stories through my lens. Every frame tells a story but when we create a story within a frame, it makes the frame more beautiful. Juxta is an interesting thing to do, but I find storytelling more attractive than juxta.

People of Kolkata are normally camera-friendly, they generally don't create any difficulties while we are moving among people. But sometimes people get curious about what we are doing or why we are taking pictures of them but otherwise they don't create any problems.

My photography journey is not so long. But after being a street and documentary photographer my course of life has entirely changed. I have started photography in 2018. But I have had a craze for photography since my childhood , whenever I could get a mobile or camera from anyone I would always try to capture my surrounding people and their daily life. I love to see photos daily , in social media I used to watch various kinds of pictures from different countries and different photographers that helped me to increase my knowledge.

When I make a plan to go out for a shoot at first I used to make a research on that particular subject or project on which I am going to do my work, then I used to make a plan on that particular place and time when my shoot takes place , because time is more important in street photography. But sometimes when I go out with my equipment I capture various candid moments on the street and Kolkata is a city which never fails a photographer with its various moods and moments.

The northern part of Kolkata is my favourite place to shoot rather than the middle and southern part of Kolkata. Because North Kolkata has more potential. In north kolkata there are so many traditional buildings which bring an ancient culture , the people , streets of North Kolkata brings an essence of traditional old culture , which I find more interesting rather than modern culture of South Kolkata , though I live in south Kolkata.

Kolkata is a city where a photographer can find various projects in all 12 months in the year. September and October is the month of celebration for the people of Kolkata because the biggest festival of Kolkata Durgapuja normally happens in the month of October. In the month of September there is a place called Kumortuli where Durga idols are getting prepared and in the whole preparation of Durgapuja starts from the month of September. There are very few festivals in India as big as Durgapuja , so definitely it is very crucial to me right now.

People from different regions are able to know about this project and its vastness at Kolkata.

I am using a Sony A6000 mirrorless camera right now. I have used a DSLR earlier but mirrorless is giving me such a great output, especially in low light mirrorless is a revolution.

I just want to give a tip for your readers, that is please do visit Kolkata , because I don't know how much the city there in the world is potentially like Kolkata. Maybe it is an exaggerated statement but Kolkata never fails to amuse you with its various moods and moments. And especially the people of Kolkata and their activities and daily lifestyle makes the city more animated. I think the depth of subject and content makes a project interesting. Generally, I prefer candid moments in street photography. While I work with people and I shoot them, I used to capture all the time candid moments because the natural reaction of people comes out when he doesn't see the camera in front of him, if they get aware about the camera in maximum time natural reactions or natural activities does not come out. But there is a difference between documentary and street photography. In documentary photography there is a chance to get a directorial shot where my subject is aware about my presence with the camera in front of him.

I think a picture is captured in our brain , a camera is just a device to print that image which has been captured in my brain. That's why many times I make plans for my shots and I make the composition in my mind. But sometimes the picture comes out without any plan because there are lots of candid moments in the street which are constantly creating. I like both colour and black & white pictures. But I feel that colour image portrays the nature and colourful clothes of people but black and white image portrays the soul of the people. I do not give much time in post-processing, I do post-processing a little bit like retouching but nothing more than that.

Kaustav Gangopadhyay

I am Kaustav Gangopadhyay (AKA Kaustav Ganguly in social media). I am doing my PhD in biological sciences from IISER-Kolkata. I am an amateur photographer who tries to click human interest.

I have a love towards knowing people and talking to them, hence I love to do people photography, specifically looking into human interest. I describe myself as a naïve learner who has just put his baby-foots in the field.

Photography in Kolkata is growing with time. The names of photographers from the city have been in the winning list of different prestigious photography awards like HIPA, Sony Photography Awards, etc. Recently, photographers from the city and around have also been part of Magnum Photos as well. It can easily be said that the new generation is highly motivated in photography and a good pool of photographers will come up soon from Kolkata. Photographers in Kolkata are highly connected as the seniors play a vital role to motivate, show the way to the juniors and the friendly relationship help everyone to grow together.

Colours give vibrancy to a photograph. Since I love clicking peoples, it’s necessary to acknowledge the colours and the bondage of every festival in India with colours. But, to me, I see the world more in Black and White rather than colours as I find it more soothing to capture the expression of the people around which eventually can change a very usual moment to an extra-ordinary one.

The world is having a dynamic shift every day in terms of socio-political scenario. From, Black lives matter in the US to CAA/NRC protest in India, it has taken the ground for a longer time. Hence, documenting every moment is one of the sole works of photography to let our history know the truth. Photography has helped in the development of many tribal areas which would have otherwise destroyed with time. Even if we look into the works of Ansel Adams on the Sierra Nevada, this clearly shows how photography can play a vital role in the social changes. Hence, its more important to showcase the truth than the happiness, colourfulness and joy as clicking the melancholy mood can eventually help in the development of the society.

India, specifically Kolkata, is a place of different people with a different kind of behaviour. The moments, layers and people activity are the sole part of most street and documentary photographers. But eventually juxta-photography in India as well as Kolkata is getting a rise with the help of Vinit Vohra, Rohit Vohra and Subrata Dey. But in my opinion, I still find clicking people and creating a moment with them satisfy my photographic thirst more but obviously juxta till date have a fanbase and I find it quite interesting as well.

Initially, I was not opened up to click people and used to miss a lot of good moments which eventually I find many people could click easily. Recently, with the help of Joydeep Mukherjee, I find it easier to communicate to people and click their candid moments and this communication finally help me to get together with them which led them to be easy with me as well.

I started using DSLR back in 2012 from my friend and learned the nitty-gritties from her. In 2017, I bought Nikon D5200 and my first trip was to Buxa Tiger Reserve in North Bengal, India. I did a lot of birding starting from crested serpent eagle to Wreathed Hornbill. But with time I find my interest in the street and the lanes of Kolkata.

Dhritiman Mandal

Notun Jibon is a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) distributed relief to one of the Amphan struck places in the deltas of Sundarban. Amphan is stated as the worst cyclone seen in years which caused the destruction of many rice fields which was the only source of income for many families in Sundarban areas. Notun Jibon delivered reliefs at different places of Sundarban. On the 9th of September 2020, we went to the district of Chandipur to distribute relief. From Kolkata we went to Godkhali where the real journey began. We loaded the boat with packets of rice, cereal, vegetables and oil. We also distributed sanitary pads and sewing machines to those who can use them, which was arranged beforehand. After reaching our destination we unloaded and distributed the relief with maintaining proper sanitation. While others were busy distributing, one of the members interacted with kids which helped us in a great way. The smiles on their faces show how much they were in need.

I am Dhritiman Mandal, a 18-year-old Kolkata, India based photographer. I shoot mostly street photography while covering events across Kolkata.

I have tried my hands on different genres of photography but street photography is what I find most challenging and that's what I usually do. Yes, there's definitely unity among us that brings us together as a community. We really connect to the emotion of Kolkata that brings us all together. We love colours, Kolkata is the city of joy and India is best known for its colours.

I think photography can have a social function. And we photographers try to tell our stories without a lot happening. It’s kinda our style. We don't have problems moving around people. In fact, people make way for us sometimes.

Pushpak Kundu

I am Pushpak Kundu. I am from Kolkata. I am studying Electronics and communication Engineering from BBIT college, Kolkata. Photography is my hobby. I love to do street and travel photography. I am doing photography from past 2 years. I just love to play with light and shadow through my lens. I go to new places and it opens my eyes to different things that I haven't seen before. Everything from colours, to silhouettes, to patterns - it just comes from everywhere. I love street photography but I do travel photography as well. See Kolkata is known for best Streetphotography hub in India. So the majority of photographers are based on the street in Kolkata, and I really like their work. Yes, there is some reason that unites all of us because of the culture, the place and while we do photo walk. Yeah, using colour in photography correctly helps draw attention to the subject and therefore creates a powerful visual effect that is pleasing to the eye. I am interested in showing the social reality of my country. I feel like the street is all about showing the truth and the emotion of the street. So this is how I am trying to show the pain and the emotion people living in street and trying to document them. Juxta is not my part of genre and I always love to show stories and documentary. In my view telling stories are more important in street photography because the street is all about motion, emotion, the lifestyle is all about candid. In the beginning, I fear to approach the people. But now after 2 years of photography for me it's normal to approach any unknown person.

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Soumadri Chowdhury

Cultural harmony and rising tension: Looking back at Chinese New Year celebrations in Kolkata

As we spend the days at home, locked down in uncertainty, we get time to introspect on the days that have gone by, and one such significant memory is my first-hand experience of the cultural diversity and inclusive nature of my city, Kolkata. With the rising tensions across the border and the Indo-China relations turning sour, the Chinese settlements in Kolkata are also facing fearful times under such situation. They are now citizens of this country, intertwining the local cultures and lives with their own, they are all a part of us. Over the years, the city has heartily accepted all cultures and faiths and turned out into a huge conglomerate of unique cultures and festivals. Hence this photostory is to look back at the good times, the times of being together in harmony. As a citizen of this city, intrigued by the uniqueness, this year I decided to make a photo story on the Chinese New Year celebrations held in the Chinese settlements of Kolkata. On the eve of the Lunar New year, the Chinese settlements in Kolkata get decked up in string lights, red lanterns and traditional decorations. The locals gather on the streets, dressed in bright dresses, filled with glee and usher in the New Year with pomp and splendour. Before the clock strikes midnight, the people gather in the temples and churches, indulging in music and celebrations, bursting firecrackers and have a merry time. The next morning sees the main part of the festivities. The people from the community gather at the temples to seek blessings for a prosperous year ahead. As the sound of the cymbals and the tanggu (Chinesedrums) intensifies, a hefty number of on-lookers and people gather around to join in the festivities. A number of processions by different clubs start from here, going around the neighbourhood, visiting the local temples,churches and residences. The otherwise mundane streets brighten up with activity and joy, people of all ages and kind come down to be a part of the festivities. A number of processions by different clubs start from here, going around the neighbourhood, visiting the local temples, churches and residences. The otherwise mundane streets brighten up with activity and joy, people of all ages and kind come down to be a part of the festivities. The procession gradually makes it's ways through the bylanes, stopping at residences to collect blessings and rewards. Integral part of the procession is the lions and dragons, the young people who wear a traditional mask with another carrying the long flowing costume.

Cai qing, meaning plucking the greens is a part of the Chinese traditions, where the Hong bao (red envelopes of money) are given to the younger ones on this day. They form a human ladder, climbing upon each other's shoulders as the one dressed as the lion reaches out for the envelope and the money, which are hung down by residents from the windows, along with lettuces. It is a unique sight, seeing the trust and bond they have as they confidently make these human towers.

The Lion Dance Dressed in lion costumes, they dance on the streets, bursting firecrackers which are believed to ward off evil. The festivities are a sight to behold and appreciate the uniqueness and inclusiveness the City of Joy, Kolkata has to offer.

soumadrichowdhury.wixsite.com/phototales

Sudeb Chowdhury

I am Sudeb Chowdhury from Kolkata. After completing my degree in Civil Engineering, I decided to pursue my long time hobby of Photography. I love telling stories that I see in front of me. My love for street photography comes from this. I also love documenting events as the ability to freeze moments gives me immense joy. Kolkata has a vast number of photographers. And most of the young bunch is unique and have their own styles. What unites all is the love for our city and the passion to tell its stories. Colour is obviously very important. It makes a frame more real and communicates better with the audience. Absolutely, photography does have social function. A beautiful image always brings joy to the viewer. I personally love juxta and try to do it in my own way. Since I want them to be absolutely unique, there might be deficit in its quantity.

I had a fear in the beginning and I think with time, the fear goes down, things become easy and one learns to communicate among the people which definitely helps.

Suparnojit Sarkar

Street Life at Bandel, India has changed over these few months. Very few people could be found in the streets. Mostly people go out for essential daily work. People are found wearing masks which was uncommon before the pandemic. Only a very few people roam in the streets just to see the daily progress of the own.

"A year on the street of the World"

Dzung Viet Le*.jpg — **"A year on the street of the World"**

**2020**

cover by Dzung Viet Le

A photo gallery chosen by some members of the Gang among some Progressive Street Galleries on FB

and our Photos of the week

Happy New Year “on the streets”!

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Pdf by Frans Kemper

Images chosen by Frans Kemper:

Rene Geensen

Andres Cesar

Olivier Avez

Andrew Dare

George Natsioulis

Greg Scott

Images chosen by Alan Roseman:

John Gellings

Keef Charles

Nadia Eeckhout

Images chosen by Delfim Correlo:

Petros Kotzabasis

Min Myo

Michael Kennedy

Images chosen by Nadia Eeckhout:

Batsceba Hardy

Eduard Maiterth

João Coelho

Images chosen by Fabio Balestra:

Harrie Miller

Juha Forsberg

Rolly B Mercado

Images chosen by Theodoros Topalis:

Ajit Mishra

Shimi Cohen

P-o Alfredsson

Images chosen by Batsceba Hardy:

Pacho Coulchinsky

Corinne Spector‎

Juan Londoño‎

Theodoros Topalis

Simone Christina Sander

Images chosen by Keef Charles:

Fabio Balestra

Jim Payne

Batsceba Hardy

Nadia Eeckhout

Irina Escoffery

Fernand De Canne

Photos of the week from Progressive-Street Group 2020

Alan Roseman

Alberto Cavallari

Alpay Beler‎

Andreas Mamoukas

Asbjørn Lind

Batsceba Hardy

Bogo Pečnikar

Boy Jeconiah

Bruno Lavi

Calvin Angelo Casem

Carlos Díaz

CC Lu

Cheryl Atkins

Christian Cross

Corinne Spector

Cris Tian

Daniel Antunes

David Williams

Debby Masamba

Derra Ng

Dino Santos

Don Scott

Dov Oron

Dzung Viet Le

Emir Sevim

Edita Sabalionyte

Fabio Balestra

Felipe Toledo

Fran Balseiro

Gabi Ben Avraham

Gautam Maiti

Gerri McLaughlin

Gurhan Gunes

Hermano Lobo

Ilan Ben Yehuda

Irina Escoffery

Isa Egea

Jim Darke

João Coelho

John Gellings

John St

Joy Prakash Das

Keef Charles

Khit Tayza Aung

Lola Minister

Lorenzo Ponzi

Lue Escandell

Luiza Menescal

Marcelo Sznaidman

Marco DM

Mário Ferreira

Martin Ingber

Matthew Cope

Michael Kennedy

Miguel Lisbona

Mikael Carlsson

Min Myo

Mónica Murillo

Nadia Eeckhout

Never Edit

Neville Fan

Niklas Lindskog

Noorhadi Saleh

Nuno Vasconcelos Branco

Ohad Aviv

Orna Naor

Patrick Merino

Petros Kotzabasis‎

Rainer Neumann

Richard Keeling

Robert Adams

Roberto di Patrizi

Rytis Vilnietis

Sam Benari

Saman A. Ali

Sanjoy Mondal

Santanu Dey

Shimi Choen

Sudipta Sarkar

Swarup Chakraborty

Takashi Tachi

Victor Borst

"A year on the street of the World" 2019

Caution wet floor! by Aurélien Bomy

Aurelien-Bomy-Caution-wet-floor-Octobre-2020-300DPI-167-Submission.jpg — **Caution wet floor!**

**by Aurélien Bomy**

« Caution wet floor ! » is a series I shot one rainy night in the street where I live « Le quai de la fosse » which is located on the old commercial port by the Loire river, downtown Nantes (FR).
In my photographic practice, my interest is focused on capturing cinematic scenes and atmospheres and this street is one of my favorites for night shoots. It offers a great environment of light (traffic lights, street lamps, neon lights, store signs...).

With time and experience I have learnt where to stand and how to move to get a better point of view and how to find the good spots with the good lights and reflections on showcases, frames and compositions.
One year ago I made a series in the same street called « Le quai des brumes » on a foggy night, capturing people in a misty atmosphere, created by the muffled lights.
This time with « Caution wet floor ! » I wanted to capture people in a more sparkling environment of light offered by the reflecting wet floor, on a rainy night.

These photos were taken in my neighborhood, so I know it well and the more I practice, the more my presence is assured. So I feel more secure standing in front of strangers and shooting pictures of them in this environment, with the best attitude. They seem to accept it rather well and sometimes they play with that situation like spontaneous actors.

There is something somewhat paradoxical in this practice: Two different and opposite ways of being present and holding the camera are in conflict every time I have to trigger the shutter:
The first is to hide, to disappear, to try to be invisible to prioritize the scene as it is with the least incidence or influence on it.
The second way is to be visible, to assume an unavoidable presence, sometimes by standing in the middle of the sidewalk as an obstacle in the path of passers-by and ostensibly holding the camera to provoke surprise, a change of attitude, a detour, a visual contact...

These two orientations are both necessary and I have to compose with them. Work in progress ... On my way to make life a story...

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Aurélien Bomy https://www.progressive-street.com/features

Aurélien Bomy

When the City of the dead comes alive by Ubo Pakes

All Saints Day in the Philippines

Kalag-Kalag or All Souls Day is a red-letter day for Filipino Catholics in Philippines. During this day, families flock to cemeteries to celebrate and remember their loved ones who passed away. It is maybe the biggest reason for people to travel from the cities to their hometowns to be with their families and some even call it the Kalag-Kalag Fiesta. It is estimated that more Filipinos travel home for this than for Christmas. At the same time, there are whole communities living and making a living at the cemetery and for them, these are the busiest days of the year, selling flowers and candles and cleaning and fixing up graves. My mother in law and aunts are also busy for weeks making sure that the family graves are presentable so that they can receive the living.

In the cemetery’s families get together, mourn, celebrate, eat, pray, flirt and more. People burn candles or lamps and leave flowers and food for the deceased to partake. It is as if society is standing still on these days and that all life and businesses are concentrated in and around the cemeteries. When people are leaving the cemetery, they usually go through a bonfire of smoke which is believed to prevent the ghosts of their loved ones from following them and haunt them at home.

For more than ten years now, I attend with my family this event and I am very much fascinated by the phenomenon. In the evening when there are tens of thousands of people, lights, candles, fires, flowers, picnics and more the cemetery is transformed into an almost mystical place. The city of the dead comes alive while the surrounding business areas are virtually deserted. The world has turned upside down. Throngs of the yellow glow of lighted candles, fires and lightbulbs against the setting of flower adorned concrete tombs and a dark blue sky creates a special atmosphere that adds to the magic of the event.

This year, the government in the Philippines has closed all cemeteries for Kalag-kalag due to the high risk of COVID transmissions. I will be missing the cemetery this year.

Ubo Pakes is a Dutch national and is an environmental engineer by profession. He moved to the Philippines in 2008 and photography became a way of getting more acquainted with the many different aspects of Philippine culture and the many differences between his home country and the Philippines. Observing the world around him through his camera is a great way to remain curious of the area where he lives.

Living and working in a big metropolitan area like Cebu has directed his focus on the many people who are working and living a big part of their lives on the streets of the City. Creating portraits turned out to be a great way to be in contact with society, learning parts of the language and the customs of the big city and surrounding province. His interests are mainly in documenting the faces and lives of ordinary people in all facets of daily life.

Ubo Pakes